Geranium plant named ‘Lulumex’

ABSTRACT

Geranium ‘Lulumex’ is a new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant, particularly characterized by the combined features of bicolored, red-purple and white flower color, floriferous with large inflorescence, intense green foliage with distinct zonation, and moderately compact, well-branched and round plant habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geraniumbotanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Lulumex’.

‘Lulumex’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new ivy geranium varieties with variegated flowerswith pink, red or purple main flower.

‘Lulumex’ originated from a grafting hybrid derived by grafting cuttingsof ‘Fislulu’ on rootstocks of ‘Mexicana’ (Rouletta), in order totransmit the characteristic of variegation of flower color. Thevariegation causing agent is supposed to be a beneficial, virus-likeorganism.

‘Fislulu’ is a commercial ivy geranium variety, U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,228, having deep purple double flowers, medium green, zoned foliage,and relatively compact, well-branched plant habit.

‘Mexicana’, synonym ‘Rouletta’, is an unpatented variety characterizedby bicolored flowers with cherry-red bordered petals and white center,medium green foliage with zonation, and tall, open, long trailing planthabit.

Shoot tip cuttings of ‘Fislulu’ were grafted on branches of a pottedplant of ‘Mexicana’ in a green-house in Hillscheid, Germany, in winter1996/97 by the inventor Angelika Utecht. In April/May 1997 recentlygrown shoot tips from the successful graftings were cut, rooted andgrown out.

Plants grown from cuttings of these plants were examined in Hillscheidin early spring 1998, and proved to develop variegated flowers only,which was confirmed during the common spring trial cultivation startingin May 1998.

In contrast to earlier experiments with grafting, the degree ofvariegation proved to be very uniform and the size of the white area ofthe petal was only temporarily reduced after the plants had grownrapidly under high temperature and high light intensity in spring.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the cloneinitiated in spring 1998 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, andcontinuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Lulumex’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Lulumex’ with colors being as true as possible withillustrations of this type.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedindoors from plants developed in a greenhouse in May 1999 in Hillscheid,Germany.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic charactertics of ‘Lulumex’, which in combination distinguishthis geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Brilliant red-purple main flower color, and petals with a whitecenter;

2. Semi-spherically shaped, relatively large inflorescence;

3. Medium green foliage with weak zonation;

4. Short to medium sized plant habit, very well-branched, round planthabit; and

5. Early to medium flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Lulumex’ are the related varieties ‘Fislulu’and ‘Mexicana’.

In comparison to ‘Fislulu’, ‘Lulumex’ has variegated flowers with largewhite ‘eyes’ on petals and with a slightly different, brighter mainflower color, that is, color of the margin of the petal. Themorphological characteristics of ‘Lulumex’ are fairly close to those of‘Fislulu’, apart from the even more freely branching.

In comparison to ‘Mexicana’, ‘Lulumex’ has a more intense main flowercolor, rounder florets, much more compact plant habit, and a distinctlyhigher number of branches.

‘Lulumex’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe 12week old plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, BristishColumbia, Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The measurements were taken in Langley, Canada, on Jun. 15, 1999,—12weeks after planting of rooted cuttings into 15 cm pots.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: A hybrid of the species Pelargonium peltatum L'Hérit.

Commercial: Ivy geranium, cv. LULUMEX.

INFLORESCENCE

Umbel:

Shape.—Nearly semi-spherical.

Average diameter.—87 mm.

Average depth.—45 mm.

Peduncle length.—105 mm.

Peduncle color.—Light green, varying between RHS 143 B and RHS 144 A.

Pedicel length.—28.5 mm, with spur.

Pedicel color.—Yellowish green, RHS 144 A, occasionally slight infusionof anthocyanin, weak brownish, RHS 179 B.

Number of flowers per umbel.—6-9.

Corolla:

Average diameter.—52 mm.

Form.—Double.

Shape.—Round outline, but slightly zygomorph.

Number of petals.—16.5.

Shape of upper petals.—Narrow obovate, attenuate base, upper endrounded, margin entire.

Shape of lower petals.—Obovate, attenuate base, upper end rounded,margin entire.

Size of upper petals.—30-32 mm in length, 19-21 mm in width.

Size of lower petals.—28-30 mm in length, 21-23 mm in width.

Number of petaloids.—2-4.

Shape of petaloids.—Filiform to narow-lanceolate.

Size of petaloids.—Approximately 9-11 mm long, more narrow than thepetals.

Color of petaloids.—Approximately RHS 74 B, with white base, RHS 155 D(Both surfaces).

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Bicolored,brilliant red-purple and white.

Color of upper petals (margin)—From RHS 66 A to RHS 74 B.

Markings of upper petals.—Weak, two violet veins at the base, RHS 187 B.

Color of lower petals (margin).—From RHS 66 A to RHS 74 B.

Color of middle of petals.—White, RHS 155 D on both upper and lower.

Color of lower surface of petals.—Purple RHS 74 B at the margin, andwhite RHS 155 D in the middle.

Color of sepals.—Green, RHS 143 C on the upper side, and RHS 143 B onthe under side.

Number of sepals.—5-6.

Shape of sepals.—Linear to lanceolate, acute apex.

Size of sepals.—12-13 mm long, largest sepal 4-5 mm wide, other sepals 3mm wide.

Bud: (just before petals unfold):

Shape.—Narrow elliptical.

Color (sepals).—Medium green, from RHS 143 A to RHS 143 B.

Color (petals).—Mainly red, RHS 57 B, and white, RHS 155 D.

Length.—22 mm.

Width.—11 mm.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.—Most often 5 fertile anthers, mainly white, with upper endpink, filaments, yellow-orange pollen, the lower side of mature anthersis black.

Gynoecium.—5-6-lobed stigma, violet stigma and whitish filament, onepistil per flower.

Fertility/seed set.—Hardly any spontaneous seed set.

Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 1999 plantshad on average 1.0 flowers opened 12 weeks after planting of rootedcuttings (pinched plants).

Outdoor flower production: Relatively floriferous.

Durability: Fair shatter resistance. Good rain resistance. Goodstability of flower color.

Lastingness of the individual bloom: Approximately 8 to 9 days at about18° C.

Fragrance: None.

PLANT

Foliage:

Form.—Kidney-shaped with weak, rounded lobes, reniform, closed toslightly overlapping base, and with glossy surface.

Margin.—Entire.

Size of leaf.—83 mm in width, average 48 mm in length.

Color of upper surface.—Medium green, approx. RHS 137 B.

Color of lower surface.—RHS 137 D.

Color of zonation.—Weak to medium distinct, brown, about RHS 166 A.

Size of petioles.—40-50 mm in length, 2-3 mm in diameter.

Color of petioles.—Light green, RHS 143 C.

Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility.—No specific observations madeother than typical for ivy cultivars: due to thick, leathery and glossysurface of the leaves, they are generally not susceptible to diseaseshowever not completely resistant to aphids: tolerance to botrytis isrelatively good.

General appearance and form:

Internode length.—25-35 mm.

Branching pattern.—11.9 branches.

Plant size.—16.3 cm from soil level to top of the foliage canopy (12weeks after planting); 60 cm from base of the main stem to the tips ofthe stems, 30-32 cm in diameter (30 weeks after planting).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant ‘Lulumex’, asdescribed and illustrated.